For Hobbton High School graduate Gerardo Gallegos, playing quarterback allowed him to be the leader on the team, while the long snapper position, which he also occupied, gave him the opportunity to assist in field goal and extra point attempts.

According to Gallegos, his passion for football began by simply playing around the house with his cousins.

Once he entered high school, he started playing football as a freshman at Hobbton; however, during his sophomore year, he sustained a knee injury that put he out until his junior year.

“I had to stop playing football in the tenth grade because I tore my ACL,” Gallegos stated, adding that it occurred while running a tackling drill at football practice.

It took Gallegos roughly a year to fully come back from his injury, due to rehabilitation and extensive workout routines, but, he commented that every now and then he still experiences pain in his knee.

Once Gallegos prepared to hit the turf the fall of his junior year, he was able to play on the varsity level, and it was here that he juggled the role of backup quarterback and long snapper.

From Gallegos’ statements, he shared that he prefers the quarterback position, but was more frequently placed as the long snapper.

“I liked playing quarterback because it was like being the leader on the field,” Gallegos revealed. “I am a quiet guy, but I would pump the team up by doing something good on the field.”

According to Gallegos, his longest pass while at the quarterback slot was roughly 12 yards, and his favorite play was the 28 Waggle, which, he revealed, was a very successful play, gaining 6 to 7 yards each time.

When Gallegos was not playing quarterback, he stated that he was positioned on the special team, where he was able to start both his junior and senior years.

While the duties of a long snapper are not as glorious as that of the quarterback, Gallegos shared, it did allow him the opportunity to assist in field goal or extra point attempts.

As the long snapper, Gallegos is required to be as quick and accurate as possible during punts, field goals and point after tries; however, he voiced, that this position is not fool proof and mistakes happen.

According to Gallegos, there were times on the Wildcat field when a bad snap was executed, the holder positioned the ball wrong or the kicker was off, which could cost the team the extra point or field goal.

But, for the most part, Gallegos stated that the special team was on the same level, both mentally and physically.

As for his longest snap, Gallegos reported it to be 13 yards.

Even though Gallegos does not plan to play football while studying computer science next year at UNC-Pembroke, he did comment that he hopes to play intramural football.

Before concluding, Gallegos extended a thank you to coaches Al Peacock and Jeff Byrd.

“I want to thank coach Peacock for always pumping us up before and after the game. And, I lastly want to thank coach Byrd for getting us stronger during the off season,” Gallegos expressed.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at 910-592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonnc.com